CHAV. VI VILLA GAEDENING 175 



roots, cut into pieces an inch or two long, and planted thick-end 

 upwards about level with the surface of the soil, which should be 

 sandy, will, most of them, push forth latent buds and grow into 

 good plants. Until started they should have, if possible, a little 

 l)ottom-heat to push them on into growth before a loss of vigour 

 takes place from drying. The pots and pans of cuttings taken 

 from the green shoots will strike very Avell on a shelf near the 

 glass in a warm greenhouse, if in an equable state as to moisture. 

 Where properly attended to in this respect, no shading will be re- 

 quired. Cuttings will root in the open air or in a frame, but I 

 have always found those rooted on a shelf near the glass in the 

 full sunshine make the sturdiest and best plants. 



Potting. — By October even the latest of the cuttings should 

 be rooted sufficiently to pot off if good flowering plants are re- 

 quired the next season. Sandy loam, with a fifth part of leaf- 

 mould, will suit them well at this stage. The pots should be 

 proportioned in size to the strength of the plants, potting the 

 strongest into what are termed large sixties, or about 4 inches in 

 diameter, the small plants to have 3-inch pots; but in private 

 places, unless a large number of plants are required or the kinds 

 are new and scarce, it is hardly worth while to pot the weakly 

 plants, as they never overtake the others ; and it is better to 

 grow a moderate number of good plants, and grow them well, than 

 waste time and space on others which no amount of skill can 

 turn into good specimens. Every propagator knows that even 

 ■when he has scope for the selection of the cuttings, a certain pro- 

 portion of the plants he raises will be weaklings, and will not, if 

 potted, grow into healthy specimens, and usually these are dis- 

 carded at once to save disappointment. Clean pots, careful 

 drainage, and firm potting are essential in Pelargonium cultm'e. 

 The latter item is often disregarded, as a plant loosely potted by 

 its rapid growth at fii'st pleases the inexperienced plant-grower, 

 and he rejoices in his broad foliage ; but such plants do not flower 

 well. A densely floriferous habit can only be secured by fairly 

 firm soil. 



Position and Temperature. — Pelargoniums must always 

 occupy a position near the glass. The house for this class should, 

 if it is convenient, be fitted with a movable stage, raised 

 and lowered at pleasure, dropping it down when the plants 

 open their blossoms. But it is specially important that during 

 the short, dark days the plants should be near the glass, as it 

 is then that the foundation for fixture success is laid. As 

 growth proceeds, the terminal buds should be taken out to in- 

 duce them to break back and assiune a bushy habit. The plants 



